1. Evaluation of botanicals and fungicides on threshed grain mold rating (TGMR) and grain hardness in sorghum V. V. Kalpande, G. F. Vyavhare, R. B. Ghorade, H.S. Gahukar, Seema Nemade and Neeta Barabde All India Coordinated Sorghum Improvement Project, Akola Centre Sorghum Research Unit, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola (MS)

2.  About 50 diseases are noticed in sorghum, but only 30 of them are found in India.  Grain mold is the major disease of kharif sorghum affecting grain yield as well as the quality of the produce.  Grain mold is caused by a complex of fungi and it affects the grain yield, quality and market value  One of the most important factors for development of the grain mold in kharif sorghum is the late rains of October- November at physiological maturity stage.  Grain mold can be broadly defined as pre–physiological grain deterioration caused by fungal species interacting pathologically and or saprophytically with developing grains.  Discoloration observed at physiological maturity includes blackish discoloration by Curvularia sp., pinkish discoloration by Fusarium sp., snow whitish discoloration by Olpitrichum sp. and grayish discoloration by Alternaria or Drechslera sp.  The study was undertaken to test the efficacy of botanicals and fungicides against grain mold fungi of sorghum.

3. Material and Methods  Study consisted of eleven different treatments including control on grain mold susceptible genotype, AKMS 14 B of sorghum  Study was carried out at Sorghum Research Unit, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola during kharif 2013.  These eleven treatments were T1 – Neem seed extract 10%, T2– Neem leaves extract 10%, T3 – Eucalyptus leaves extract 10%, T4 – Ginger (rhizome) extract 10%, T5 – Garlic (cloves) extract 10%, T6 –Pyraclostrobin 0.1% (1 g/lit), T7– Propiconazole 0.1% + Mancozeb 0.3% (Propiconazole 1 ml/lit + Mencozeb 3 g/lit.), T8 – Thiram 0.2% + Carbendazim 0.1% (Thiram 2 g/lit + Carbendazim 1 g/lit.), T9 – Pr­opiconazole 0.1% + Thiram 0.3% (Pr­opiconazole 1 ml/lit + Thiram 3 g/lit), T10 – Water spray, T11 – Control (No any spray).  Two sprayings of the botanicals and fungicides were taken on sorghum genotype AKMS 14 B of which first spray was taken at complete anthesis stage and second at 15 days after first spray.  To invite sufficient fungal load, regular water sprays were done.  The observations were recorded on Threshed grain mold rating ( TGMR ) % and grain hardness (kg/cm 2 )

4. Results and Discussion Table 1. Effect of botanicals and fungicides on Threshed grain mold rating (TGMR) in sorghum genotype AKMS 14B Sr. No.TreatmentsConc. %TGMR (%) T1T1 Neem Seed Extract10%28.80 (32.36) T2T2 Neem Leaves Extract10%49.60 (44.77) T3T3 Eucalyptus Leaves Extract10%42.30 (40.54) T4T4 Ginger (rhizome) Extract10%28.20 (32.00) T5T5 Garlic (cloves) Extract10%26.90 (31.22) T6T6 Pyraclostrobin 20% WG0.1%8.10 (16.47) T7T7 Propiconazole 25% EC + Mancozeb 75% WP (1:3)0.1%+0.3%9.30 (17.67) T8T8 Thiram 75% WP+ Carbendazim 50% WP (2:1)0.2%+ 0.1%12.67 (20.81) T9T9 Propiconazole 25% EC + Thiram 75% WP (1:3)0.1%+ 0.3%11.85 (20.13) T 10 Water spray.-54.90 (47.82) T 11 Control.-50.40 (45.23) F test - Sig. SE(m) ± - 1.63 CD(p=0.05) - 4.81 Figures in parenthesis are arc sine values

5. Table 2. Effect of botanicals and fungicides on Grain Hardness in sorghum genotype AKMS 14B Sr. No. TreatmentsConc. % Grain hardness (kg/cm 2 ) T1T1 Neem Seed Extract10%6.50 T2T2 Neem Leaves Extract10%6.05 T3T3 Eucalyptus Leaves Extract10%6.17 T4T4 Ginger (rhizome) Extract10%6.65 T5T5 Garlic (cloves) Extract10%6.67 T6T6 Pyraclostrobin 20% WG0.1%8.12 T7T7 Propiconazole 25% EC+ Mancozeb 75% WP (1:3)0.1%+0.3%8.27 T8T8 Thiram 75% WP+ Carbendazim 50% WP (2:1)0.2%+ 0.1%7.38 T9T9 Propiconazole 25% EC + Thiram 75% WP (1:3)0.1%+ 0.3%7.61 T 10 Water spray-5.97 T 11 Control.-5.40 F test -Sig. S.E.(m)± -0.24 C.D.at 5% -0.72

6. Conclusions  Among the fungicides, the Threshed grain mold rating (TGMR) was minimum in the treatment of Pyraclostrobin @ 0.1% (8.10%), followed by Propiconazole @ 0.1% + Mancozeb @ 0.3% (9.30%).  Among the botanicals lowest Threshed grain mold rating (TGMR) was found in the treatment Garlic extract @ 10% (26.90%) followed by Ginger extract @ 10% (28.20%) while maximum found in water spray treatment (54.90%) and in control (50.40%).  Maximum grain hardness (8.27 Kg/cm 2 ) was recorded in the treatment Propiconazole @ 0.1% + Mancozeb @ 0.3% followed by Pyraclostrobin @ 0.1% (8.12 Kg/cm 2 ).  Among the botanicals, Garlic extract @ 10% (6.67 Kg/cm 2 ) was the best treatment. Minimum grain hardness was recorded in control treatment (5.40 Kg/cm 2 ) and (5.97 Kg/cm 2 ) in water spray treatment.  Thus it was concluded from the study that the treatment Pyraclostrobin @ 0.1% and Propiconazole @ 0.1% + Mancozeb @ 0.3% were the best in controlling the TGMR and improving the grain hardness in sorghum. While in case of botanicals, Garlic extract @ 10% was best in reducing the TGMR and improving the grain hardness.